Published

Chapter 35 – Westminster Hall

in extenso

After the committee investigation about the Limehouse bridge, it is said that the testimony given by Mr. Blocks “was published in extenso” (Latin meaning “at full length”), leading to an increase in the price of the Limehouse bridge shares. Trollope’s use of Latin emphasizes the fact that those who read the full testimony had reason to believe that the construction of the bridge had been saved (for now). The use of Latin is a linguistic gesture that elevates the newspaper’s presentation of Mr. Blocks’ remarks. [GZ & RR 2017]

cent per cent

The Latin ending –um on centum is dropped in the phrase, but the meanings of the Latin words are retained: 100 for 100, or 100%. [RR 2017]

Fortune favoring Alaric

Alaric urges Undy to repay his share of the money “borrowed” from Clementina’s trust to buy stock. He explains to Undy that “Fortune has so far favoured” him in that the stock has risen in value, making repayment of the money possible. Trollope may here be recalling the Latin phrase audentes Fortuna iuvat (Fortune favors the bold), found in Vergil’s Aeneid. Though Fortune has so far favored Alaric’s audacity, it will not continue to do so, belying the Latin sentiment. [RR 2017]

source: Vergil, Aeneid 10.284.

Excelsior

Alaric’s Latin exhortation of Excelsior—higher—is in tension with several mentions of falling in this chapter and is explicitly contrasted with images of his own imprisonment and his family harmed by his actions. [RR 2017]